The spam post from 2013 only gave this legendary performance 4 stars? Maybe they took it down a star for the AUD patch.

Every year I wrestle with choosing the SBD or the AUD for the big jam. The gentle aspects of the Dark Star are better heard on the board, but the guest guitarists are captured much differently on the AUD than they were mixed in the board feed. A matrix would probably just sound boomy and crackly but I'd really like to hear one attempted someday. Until then I'll just keep listening to both sources of the Spanish Jam back to back.

The recording is very tinny & needs some EQing. Actually I'd call it harsh, up until Dark Star. I guess maybe the venue itself sounded bad, and when they played this very mellow Dark Star they were trying to mellow all the harsh out...but that's speculation. The part where the guest musicians come in is very mesmerising, as are the source switches, unintentionally having the kind of effect Garcia was always trying to achieve with his playing at this point in history. In all I like it, but could hope for a better recording.

Ajahn Brahm was in Ottawa last week, in time for Canada Day! He gave a talk at the University of Ottawa and lead a meditation the following morning. It was inspiring to be in his (strong) presence, in large part because of the love and kindness that he showed in his interactions with people and the good humour he showed at every turn. And doesn’t mince his words, either!

I bought his book, Mindfulness Bliss and Beyond (you can read the first few chapters on line) in which he advocates the practice of Jhana meditation as the path to enlightenment.



There are other meditation teachers who teach this path. Bhante Gunarathana is one – you can get a whole medition course on CD that teaches the Jhanas. Leigh Brasington also teaches Jhana retreats and has done so in the Ottawa region in the past – I think he’s scheduled to give another one in 2009.

But I’ve never seen a Thai Forest monk put such emphasis on this method. On page 63 of his book Ajahn Brahm says (regarding the 4th Jhana):

That’s the pinnacle of mindfulness…. That’s as powerful as mindfulness can get. Once you have experienced that level of mindfulness, then you will know for yourself how ridiculous it is to think that you can become enlightened without Jhana.

I find this assertion — that enlightenment is impossible without Jhanas — astonishing. Not that I have any opinion about whether this is true or not from personal experience. It’s just that I didn’t think that any particular experience (in the historical dimension) was a pre-requisite for elightenement. I didn’t even think meditation was required at all!

I guess I worry that statements like that can set up expectations in us mere (lay) mortals that there’s no hope for us unless we dedicate our lives to formal practice. Sometimes I like to remember a talk by Sr. Chan Duc in which she described meditation as the practice of opening the windows in your house to enable the winds of grace to enter.

Some of us try so so hard to be good, to meditate, to develop virtues…. and yet we continue to suffer because we haven’t been able to let go. So this kind of statement “Enlightenment -> Jhanas” induces the thought – “I’ve got to ‘get’ Jhanas” – one more thing to attain! When perhaps all that can be hoped for is to make sure the windows are open.

Set 2!!! Lovelight with Greg Allman and Pigpen on vocals... classic show!

One of the most laid back Dark Stars out there. A def download for deadheads and the other one is sick to

One of the best Spanish Jam they ever played.

nice to get a version of this ds uncut, amazing show with ABB, great great great

This is an upgrade that is not to be missed. It sounds like the SBD portion of Dark Star is much longer than previously circulated versions. The complete second set audience recording is not to be missed either! This is an ESSENTIAL show! Even Phil took time out to write a blow by blow account in his book Searching For The Sound.

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~Classic Super 70' Soundboard~

I highly recommend adding this show to your 1970 GRATEFUL DEAD collection.

Here's one way to download this show:

The IA recommends users of Windows XP view this web-page with RealPlayer. RealPlayer is a free media player you can download at www.realplayer.com.

For easy streaming or downloading you should use RealPlayer.

Using RealPlayer to view this webpage, click the VBR M3U link to open the songs in the Playlist. If your Playlist is not open, open it by clicking the Playlist icon at the lower right hand corner of RealPlayer. Once the songs are in the Playlist, double click the song to play it, then click the record button at the lower left hand corner of Realplayer to record it. When the red line reaches the other end click the stop button to download the song. Your song is in the RealPlayer Downloads folder. Repeat these steps for each song.

Eat, Drink, Be Merry and Listen to the GRATEFUL DEAD.

Thanks for the LOVE from 1970.

It's amazing to hear all of these legendary musicians on the same stage!! Talk about an allstar jam!!!! Lovelight is amazing with Greg & Pig trading off on the vocals,and all the guitar playing is on fire!!We are so blessed to have this recording to document an otherwise unbelievable performance!!!